Teen pleads guilty in Escondido fatal stabbing

6  A teenage boy accused of fatally stabbing a man during a street fight in Escondido last year pleaded guilty Thursday to voluntary manslaughter.

Jose Luis Garcia Jr., 17, also admitted he used a deadly weapon in the attack — a knife — and that he committed the crime for the benefit of a street gang.

He is expected to be sentenced to 22 years in prison at a March 24 hearing in Vista Superior Court.

Garcia was charged as an adult in connection with the slaying of Martin Melendez-Ramos, 18, of Escondido, who was mortally injured during a Nov. 27 fight on Norway Court near East Park Avenue.

Deputy District Attorney Cal Logan said at a previous hearing that Garcia issued a gang challenge toward a group of teens. One responded by telling the defendant, “Hey, you know me,” indicating he was from the area.

Garcia had been drinking, and the incident escalated into a fight, the prosecutor said. As the scuffle started to break up, Garcia pulled a knife from his waistband and stabbed Melendez-Ramos in his chest.

He died at a hospital around 2 a.m.

The prosecutor said Garcia was not a documented gang member and there is no evidence the victim was involved in gang activity.

Garcia originally faced charges of murder and assault with a deadly weapon, but those charges were dropped in light of the plea.